Suction cup timing mechanism controlled animated toy



June 8, 1954 v. F. WlGAL 2,630,329

SUCTION CUP TIMING MECHANISM CONTROLLED ANIMATED TOY Filed April 30,1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 24 lu u INVENTOR. YOORHIS F- WIGAL ATTORNEY V. F.WIGAL June 8, 1954 SUCTION CUP TIMING MECHANISM CONTROLLED ANIMATED TOYFiled April 50, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. VOORHIS F. WIGALATTORNEY Patented June 8, 1954 SUCTION CUP TIMING MECHANISM CONTROLLEDANIMATED TOY Voorhis F. Wigal Rocky River, ,Ohio Application April 30,1953, Serial No. 352,086

This invention relates to escapement mechanisms, and in particularrelates to a new and novel escapement mechanism having particularapplication in the field of mechanical toys.

In the past, there have been described the use of certainsurface-adhering suction cups, which are bled in various ways to relieveth adherence of the same to the sheer surface being traversed by aClimbing toy.

In one form of prior art, bleeding of the suction cups was efiec'tuatedby provision of communicating parts between the interior and exteriorfaces of the suction cup. In this manner, the formation of atheoretically imperforate was obviated. It has been discovered thatsubstantially the same result can be obtained by the roughening ofeither the suction cup or the reaction surface to which the suction cupadheres.

It is therefore one object of this invention to utilize this bled typeof suction cup, either perforate or imperforate in conjunction with anappropriate surface, as a timing mechanism for an escapement device.

It is a further object of this invention to utilize a vacuum cup with aleak therein, to impart intermittent animation to a simulated toyanimal.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent uponreading of the specification, considered in the light of theaccompanying drawings.

f the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view partly broken away and in section, of a toyfish having the new and novel escapement mechanism incorporated therein.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away and in section, andshowing the vacuum cup in adhered relationshi to the reaction surface.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the vacuum cupseparated from the reaction surface.

9 Claims. (Cl. 46123) Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly broken awayand in section, and illustrating a modification of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view taken on the lines 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figures 6, '7 and 8 are cross-sectional eleva- .tions of various typesof suction cups that may mechanism I0, and the escapement mechanism(indicated generally by the numeral 20), that is employed to control thesame, are shown mounted within the interior of a hollow toy II, thatresembles, in configuration, a simulated toy fish;

having a hollow body Ila, a head portion Ilb,

and a tall or fin portion II c. The arrangement of the component partsis such that while the driving and escapement mechanisms are bothmounted on a plate 21 that is secured to the hollow body Ila as at I2,the hollow body Ila is provided with longitudinal slots 44, 45, topermit the end of a rotor arm H511, to swing out therethrough. In thismanner, during the operation of the toy, the end of the rotor arm IBa,will, upon rotation, extend through the slots 44, 45, and strike theexternal surface upon which the toy is resting, causing the same to berepelled from the surface in simulation of a fish jumping when on dryland.

Referring now to the driving mechanism Ill, the same is shown asincluding a shaft I5, journaled between opposed supports 13, I4, andfreely extending through appropriate apertures provided in the opposedwalls of the hollow body I Ia. Positioned about the shaft I5, adjacentthe central portion thereof, may be a rotor 56, mounted in relativelyrotatable relationship to the shaft hi, and including a rotor arm I 6a,which is engaged by the escapement mechanism 20 so as to restrictrotation thereof in a manner to be described. To the end of providing amotivating force to cause relative rotation of the rotor It with respectto the shaft I5, there is provided a driving spring I I, positionedaround one portion of the shaft I5 and having the respective ends Ila,I'Ib thereof, secured, respectively to the shaft I5, and the rotor I6.(See Figure 1.) Winding of the driving spring is facilitated byproviding an externally presented Winding key I3, while unintentionalunwinding of the driving spring I! is prevented by employing a ratchetwheel I9, in conjunction with a pawl member Isa.

While the preferred form of escapem-ent mechanism 20 used to control therotation of the rotor i6, is shown mounted between the opposed supportsI3, It, around a pin 2|, the pivotal movement of the same about the pin2! is controlled by virtue of the novel construction of the escapementmechanism 20, hereinafter to be described. To this end, the escapementmecha-- nism 20 is shown including an arm member 22, generally known inescapements as a pallet arm having one end thereof pivoted about the pin2 I, and having the opposite end thereof apertured 4 the bent end 25a ofthe extension arm 25.

until striking the extension arm for reception therein of the flexibleshank 23 of a suction cup 24. Integrally connected to the pivoted end ofthe arm 22, and extending divergently therefrom, may be extension armsor cam means 25, 2'6, successively engageable with the rotor arm 15 tour e respective disengagement and subsequent re-engagement of thesuction cup 24 with a reaction surface 21a, provided on a plate 2].While the extension arms 25, 2B are acted upon by the rotor arms ifia toimpart rotational movement upon the suction cup 25* with respect to thereaction surface 21a, release of the suction cup 24 from the reactionsurface 2hr will not take place until sufficient air enters the? liketoken, the end of the extension arm '25 is L shown bent as at 25a, so asto more efficiently transmit the force presented by the rotor arm lfia.when the same is under tension and exerting driving mechanism' thuswound and secured against accidental unwinding by virtue of theratchetwheel l9 and the usual ratchet pawl i911, the toy may be placedupon the external'surface and the rotor arm -Hid released, whereupon thesamewill rotate in a clockwise direction with the end portion passingthrough clearance slots 54, 45 provided in the hollow body for thispurpose.

Because the'suction cup 2 3 is normal; out of engagement with thereaction surface 23a, the

first complete-revolution of the rotor arm se will operate only to urgethe suction cup 2 3 into adherence with the reaction surface 727a as aresult of the moment applied to the suction cup 24' by virtue of thecontact between the extension arm 2'6 and the tip of the rotor'arm its.With the suction cup 25 thus adhered to the reaction surface 21a,further rotation of the rotor arm I611 will be prohibited when the saile caches the position shown in Figure 2, where in the end of the rotorarm llia is engaged by Because of the perforate seal formed between thesuction cup 24 and the reaction'surface 21a, it is manifest that therotor arm We will be held in the position of Figure 2 only untilsufficient air enters the undersideof the'suction cup 22 to break theseal that causes adherence between "the suction cup 2 3 and the reactionsurface 27a.

When this seal is broken, the suction cup 2 5 will 'be urged away fromthe reaction surface 27a by virtue of the moment applied thereto by theextension-arm 25; and pivoted to the position of'Figure" 3, therebyallowing the rotor arm ific to pass the bent end 25a and subsequently tocontact the extension arm 28. At this point,

the motivating force of the rotor arm 180,, will cause the same topivotally move the extension lfia past extension arm 25, andsimultaneously causing; by virtue of the moment applied, a reengagementof the suction cupid with the re action surface 21a. With'the suctioncup 2 thus positioned, the rotor arm lEa will rotate whereupon force todisengage the suction cupid from the reaction surface 27a;

"In use or operation of the improved timing underside of the suction cup24 to break the seal 5,

of the same with the reaction surface 2122. By"

the releasing cycle is repeated until such time as the spring H isunwound.

From the foregoing it is manifest that a new and novel escapementmechanism has been presented that is capable of use in conjunction withanimated toys to provide a new and novel simulated movement. It has beenfurther shown how the timing device for the escapement mechanism is orsimple, yet 'ldurable, f construction, thus lending itself to economicalmass production In Figures 4 and 5, there is illustrated a modified formof the invention, wherein simulated animation is changed from that of afish to that of a'hopping bird, by providing the driving mechanismlofFigures 1-3 with a rotor 56, having a plurality of rotor arms 5!, 5!. Asa result of this use of a multiple arm rotor 59, the rotationaladvancement of the same, upon release of the suction cup 24 aspreviously described, is considerably less than the substantiallycomplete rotational advancement efiectuated in Figures 1-3; Accordingly,the'contact' with theexternal surface is less severe and the actionsimulated is one of hopping rather than jumping: Complete eliminationof'the probability of the toy overturning can be insured by providingappropriate weights 4, 5 within the hollow body, thus permittingadvanceof the toy in a hopping'fashion. Further modification set forthin Figures 4 and 5 include the use of a" generally roughenedreactionsurface 50, provided on the plate 5|, to prevent the formation 'of'theoretically perfect seal when an imperforate suction'cup 52i's used.It is equally manifest that other types of rotors could be utilized inconjunction with the type or escapement mechanism set "forth in Figuresl3. For example, the rotor of Figures 1-3, could be weighted atitsouter-end, and madeto rotate entirely within a shell or casing insimulation of a jumping bean.

Because the operation of the escapement mechanism 20 is predicated uponadherence of the suction cup 24 to the reaction surface 27d for apredetermined time interval, it is manifest that either the suction cup24 or the 'reactionj'surface 21a should preferably be of such"construction as to prevent the formation of a theoretically perfeetvacuum within the concave face thereof when the same engages thereaction surface 21a. Ac-

e cordingly, in Figures 4 and 5, the reaction surface 21a has been shownroughened while in Figures 6, 7 and 8, there are illustrated varioustypes of suction cups that may be employed to the desired'end. Thus inFigure 6, there is shown a suction cup at wherein the entrance of theair is facilitated by provision of an aperture ti, extending from theinterior surface 62 to the Xterior surface 63. Likewise, in Figure 7, atheoretically perfect seal is prevented by provision of a channel 10formed on the interior surface ll of the suction cup l2 and extending tothe peripheral edge '13. In Figure 8, agerierally roughened internalface portion 8%, provided on the suction cup 8i, insures against theformation of a theoretically perfect seal.

In Figure 9, there is shown a modification of the invention, wherein thenovel releasing 'mechanism is illustrated incorporated in a slidingmechanism. Accordingly, the suction cup $98 is shown mounted on one endof a reciprocating yoke 91, the opposite end 92 of which is secured toconventional reciprocating means (not shown) Inclined faces 93, 94, areshown mounted on the yoke 91, the arrangement being such that a rotorarm 95, rota-ole Within theyoke' it, will engage accuses the faces 93,9%, to 'cause reciprocation of the yoke with respect to a reactionsurface 95. In operation, the rotor arm 95, rotating in clockwisedirection, first engages the inclined face '93, and urges the yoke 99towards the reaction surface 96. When the suction cup 9?] engages thereaction surface 95, the rotor arm 95 will pass the inclined face andupon rotation, will engage the inclined; face 84. At this point, theyoke 91 will be subjected to force tending to urge the same away fromthe reaction surface 96. However, movement of the yoke 9| will not bepermitted until the seal between the suction cup 9| and the reactionsurface 95 is broken as has been previously described. When the seal isbroken, the rotor arm 95 will rotate to engage the surface 83 forrepetition of the cycle.

Accordingly, other modifications of the invention may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. An animated toy comprising: a body; a power driven rotor mounted forunidirectional rotation within. said body and having a radially 7projecting portion rigid therewith, said rotor being disposed so thatthe path of movement of said projecting portion projects through anopening beyond the confines of said body; escapement means adapted tocoact with said rotor toperm'it intermittent rotational advancementthereof whereby intermittent motion is imparted to said body by contactof said projecting portion with the surface on which said body isresting; a pallet arm member in said escapement means adapted to beengaged by said projecting portion of said rotor to permit intermittent,timed rotation of said rotor; a reaction surface on said body; a suctioncup carried by said pallet arm "member capable of temporary adherence tosaid reaction surface and to therefore arrest the movement of saidpallet arm member; means on said pallet arm adapted to be activated bysaid rotor to move said pallet arm so as to bring said suction cup intemporary adhering engagement with said a reaction surface "during eachrevolution of said rotor; and abutment means on said pallet arm adaptedto be thereafter engaged by said projecting portion of said rotatingmember when said pallet arm and said suction cup are in such adheringengagement, whereby the motion of said rotor is arrested, said abutmentmeans and said am having'a configurationsuch that when said suction. cupsubsequently becomes disengaged said rotor is released for furtherrotary movement, until said abutment means is again engaged by saidprojecting portion of said rotor.

2. An animated toy -comprisii'ig: a body; a power driven rotor mountedfor unidirectional rotation within said body and having a radiallyprojecting portion rigid therewith, said rotor being disposed so thatthe path of movement of said projecting portion projects through anopening beyond the confines of said body; escapement means adapted tocoact with said rotor to permit intermittent rotational advancementthereof whereby intermittent motion is imparted to said body by contactof said projecting por-- tion with the surface on which said body isresting; a pallet arm member in said escapement means adapted to beengaged by said projecting portion of said rotor to permit intermittent,timed rotation of said rotor; a reaction surface -on said support; -asuction cup carried by said pallet arm member, capable oftemporaryadherence to said reaction surface, and to therefore arrest themovement of said pallet arm :member'; cam means on said pallet armadapted to be momentarily engaged by said projecting portion of saidrotor during each revolution thereof so as to move said pal-let arm tobring said suction cup into temporary, adhering engagement with saidreaction surface; and abutment means on said pallet ar-m adapted to bethereafter engaged by said projecting portion of said rotor when saidpallet arm and said suction cup are in such adhering engagement, wherebythe motion of said rotor is arrested, said abutment'means and said armhaving a configuration such that when said suction cup subsequentlybecomes disengaged rotor is released for further rotary movement, untilsaid abutment means is again engaged bysaid projecting portion of saidrotor.

3. An animated toy comprising: a hollow body; a power driven rotormounted within and unidi-rectionailiy rotatable with respect to saidbody; -a plurality of rigid "radial projections on said rotor; the pathof movement of the ends thereof extending through an opening in saidbody; an -esoapement means activated by and controlling the rotation ofsaid rotor; said escapement means compris'mg a reaction surface i-i'exedwith respect "to said body, a pallet arm member adapted to besuccessively engaged by the'projecting portions of said rotor to permitintermittent, time rotation of said rotor, and a suction cup carried bysaid pallet arm member adapted to be moved alternately into and out ofengagement with said react-ion surface by said rotor and being capableof temporary adherence thereto so as to control the movement of saidpaliet arm member, means'on pallet arm adapted to be activated by saidrotating memher to move said pallet arm so as to bring said suction cupinto a plurality of temporary adhering -engagements with said reactionsurface during each revolution of said rotating member, and abutmentmeans on said pallet arm adapted to be engaged byone of said projectingportions of said rotor when said pallet arm and said'sizction :cup arein such adhering engagement, whereby the motion of said rotor isarrested, said abutment means and said arm having a coringuration suchthat when said suction cup subsequently becomes disengage said otor isreleased for further rotary movement, until said abutment means isagainengaged by one of said projecting portions of said rotor.

animated "toy comprising: a hollow body having an opening therein, apower driven rotor mounted within and unidirectionaily rotatable withrespect to said body, a plurality of rigid radial projections on saidrotor, the path of movement of the ends thereof extending throughan'opening in said body; and escapement means activated by andcontrolling the rotation of said rotor; said 'escapement meanscomprising a reaction surface fixed with respect to said body, a palletarm member adapted to be successively engaged by the projecting portionsof said rotor and to permit intermittent, timed rotationcf said rotor, asuction cup carried by said pallet arm member adapted to be movedalternately into and'out of engagement with said reaction surface bysaid rotor and being capabie of temporary adherence thereto so as tocontrol the movement of said pallet arm member, cam means on said palletarm adapted to be momentarily engaged by each of said radial projectionson-said rotor during each revolution thereof so as-to move said palletarm to bring said suction cu into temporary, adhering engagement withsaid reaction surface, and abutment means on said pallet arm adapted tobe thereafter engaged by one of said projections when said pallet armand said suction cup are in such adhering engagement, whereby the motionof said rotor is arrested, said abutment means and said arm having aconfiguration such that when said suction cup subsequently becomesdisengaged said rotor is released for further rotary movement, untilsaid abutment means is again engaged by one of said radial projectionson said rotor.

5. An animated toy comprising: a body; a unidirectional, power driven,rotating member mounted in said body and having a radially projectingportion rigid therewith, said member being disposed so that the path ofmovement of the end of said member rojects through an opening in saidbody beyond the confines of that portion of said body normally incontact with the supporting surface on which said toy is disposed; powermeans for continuously urging said rotating member to rotate and tostrike said supporting surface; a bearing member on said body; an armmovable on said bearing member; a reaction surface on said body; asuction cup carried by said arm capable of temporary adherence to saidreaction surface, a cam surface on said arm adapted to be momentarilyengaged by said projecting portion of said rotating member to move saidarm on said bearing member in a direction such as to cause said suctioncup to be brought into temporary adhering engagement with said reactionsurface; and a second cam surface on said arm adapted to be subsequentlyengaged by said projecting portion of said rotating member within asingle revolution thereof when said suction cup is disposed in adheringengagement with said reaction surface, and while so engaged tocontinuously urge said suction cup out of engagement with said reactionsurface, said second cam surface and said arm having a configurationsuch that when said suction cup subsequently becomes disengaged saidrotating member is released or further rotary movement, until saidsecond cam surface is again engaged by said projecting portion of saidrotating member.

6. An escapenient mechanism comprising: a

support; a unidirectional power driven rotating member having a radiallyprojecting portion mounted on said support; a bearing on said support; apallet arm movable about said bearing disposed in cooperativeassociation with said projecting portion of said rotating member, asuction cup secured to said pallet arm at a point in spaced relation tosaid bearing; a reaction surface disposed in cooperative associationwith said suction cup; means on said pallet arm adapted to be activatedby said rotating member to move said pallet arm so as to bring saidsuction cup into temporary adhering engagement with said reactionsurface during each revolution of said rotating member; and abutmentmeans on said pallet arm adapted to be thereafter engaged by saidprojecting portion of said rotating member when said pallet arm and saidsuction cup are in such adhering engagement, whereby the motion of saidrotating member is arrested, said abutment means and said arm having aconfiguration such that when said suction cup subsequently becomesdisengaged said rotating member is released for further rotary movement,until said abutment means is again engaged by said projecting portion ofsaid rotating member.

7. An escapernent mechanism comprising: a support; a unidirectionalpower driven rotating member having a radially projecting portionmounted on said support; a bearing on said support; a pallet arm movableabout said bearing disposed in cooperative association with saidprojecting portion of said rotating member, a suction cup secured tosaid pallet arm at a point in spaced relation to said bearing; areaction surface disposed in cooperative association with said suctioncup; cam means on said pallet arm adapted to be momentarily engaged bysaid projecting portion of said rotating member during each revolutionthereof so as to move said pallet arm to bring said suction cup intotemporary, adhering engagement with said reaction surface; abutmentmeans on said pallet arm adapted to be thereafter engaged by saidprojecting portion of said rotating member when said pallet arm and saidsuction cup are in such adhering engagement whereby the motion of saidrotating member is arrested, said abutment means and said arm having aconfiguration such that when said suction cup subsequently becomesdisengaged said rotating member is released for further rotary movement,until said abutment means is again engaged by said projecting portion ofsaid rotating member.

8. An escapement mechanism comprising: a support; a bearing on saidsupport; a pallet arm movable about said bearing; a reaction surfaceprovided on said support adjacent said arm; a suction cup secured tosaid arm at a point remote from said bearing, and being capable oftemporary adherence with said surface; a uni directional, power driven,rotating member mounted on said support in association with said arm andhaving a radially projecting portion; cam means on said arm adapted tobe engaged by said projecting portion of said rotating member to movesaid arm on said bearing so that said suction cup is brought intotemporary adher ig engagement with said surface; and additional cammeans on said arm adapted to be thereafter engaged by said projectingportion of said rotating member within a single revolution thereofwhereby the motion of said rotating member is arrested and said arm maybe urged to move said bearing in a direction such as to causedisengagement of said suction cup with said surface, said additionalc-am means and said arm having a configuration such that when saidsuction cup subsequently becomes disengaged said rotating member isreleased for further rotary movement, until said additional cam means isagain engaged by said projecting portion of said rotating member.

9. An escapement mechanism comprising: a support; a bearing on saidsupport; a pallet arm movable about said bearing; a reaction surfaceprovided on said support adjacent said arm; a suction cup secured tosaid arm at a point remote from said bearing and being capable oftemporary adherence with said surface; a unidirectional, power driven,rotating member mounted on said support in association with said arm andhaving a radially projecting portion; an abutment surface on said armadapted to be momentarily engaged by said projecting portion of saidrotating member to move said arm on said bearing member in a directionsuch as to cause said suction cup to be brought into temporary adheringengagement with said reaction surface; and a second abutment surface onsaid arm adapted to be subsequently engaged by said projecting portionof said rotating member and to arrest the motion References Cited in thefile of this patent thereof during the time saici suction cup is so dis-UNITED STATES PATENTS posed in temporary adhering engagement with saidreaction surface, said second abutment sur Number Name Date face andsaid arm having a configuration such 5 7531109 Poppenhusen Feb 23, 1904that when said suction cup subsequently becomes 1,243,330 1917disengaged said. rotating member is released for 1329412 schmKdt 1931further rotary movement, until said second abut- 2,150,465 sonhelm 1939ment surface is again engaged by said projecting 2,181,113 AFmmS 1939portion of said rotating member. 10 2215953 Sept 1940 2,297,759 FornasOct. 6, 1942 2,298,882 Grunwald Oct. 13, 1942 2,535,230 Purdum Dec. 26,1950 2,618,889 Wigal NOV. 25, 1952

